Book clamp



May 7 1968 R. B. HAWKES 3,381,797

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J Wad United States Patent 3,381,797 BOOK CLAMP Richard B. Hawkes, Easton, Pa., assignor to T. W. & C. B. Sheridan Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 578,852 15 Claims. (Cl. 198-180) This invention relates to a book clamp for book binding machines and more particularly, to a book clamp employing a spring element for producing the clamping force.

Heretofore, book binding machines have utilized clamps for holding together a plurality of signatures of a book in a fixed manner so that the signatures can be conveyed through a binding system for various operations. The clamps previously used have consisted of a pair of platelike members mounted in a manner which has permitted one plate-like member to move outwardly and inwardly with respect to the other in a reciprocal fashion. In order to clamp 21 book within the plate-like members, a spring, such as a coil-spring, has been mounted under compression with its longitudinal axis normal to the planes of the plate-like members so as to create a force normal to the plate-like members to urge the members towards each other and into pressure contact with the books disposed between them.

However, the clamps which have been used heretofore have a number of objectionable features. For example, the fact that the spring urging the plate-like members together is intended to generate normal forces has resulted in the plate-like members having books clamped therebetween under pressures which vary along the length of the book. The explanation of the varying clamping pressures is that the plate like members are often urged together in a manner wherein one of the members has been skewed with respect to the other. Since the members have been allowed to skew, the signatures of the clamped books have been improperly positioned and prevented from being roperly bound.

In a second instance, in prior book clamps which have relied upon a single centrally located compression spring to efifect the clamping forces, the springs have been subjected to relatively high stress levels and this condition has limited the maximum spacing between the plate-like members to about one inch unless the outside plate is adjustable on the spring rod.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a clamp wherein a pair of plate members are urged together to produce an approximately uniform clamping pressure on the signatures of a book clamped between the plate members.

It is another object of his invention to provide a clamp for books having a spring assembly which urges a pair of plate members together under a uniform load distribution.

It is another object of this invention to provide a clamp for books having a plurality of springs which are each angularly disposed to the plane of the plate members of the clamp.

It is another object of this invention to provide a spring assembly for urging the plate members of a book clamp together which is of limited depth projection.

It is another object of this invention to provide a book clamp assembly with a clamp which is adjustable to a plurality of positions so as to accommodate different thicknesses of books.

Generally, the invention provides a book clamp having a pair of oppositely disposed clamp assemblies each having a clamp plate means for moving the clamp plates apart for the delivery of a book therebetween and a spring assembly for urging the clamp plates together to clamp 3,381,797 Patented May 7, 1968 a book therebetween under a uniform clamping pressure. The spring assembly comprises at least two compression springs which are angularly disposed with respect to the planes of the plate members as well as with respect to each other so as to form a crisscross pattern. Each spring is suitably connected to both clamp assemblies so as to ur e the clamp plates together.

Since the forces developed by the springs of the spring assembly are disposed in a criss-cross pattern, each spring has a component of force in a plane parallel to the clamp plates which is opposite to a component of force of the other spring in the same plane. Thus, since these opposite forces tend to balance each other, the clamp plates are restrained against movement relative to each other in the plane of these forces. Also, the balancing of these opposite components of force tend to equalize the components of force of the springs urging the clamp plates together so that the clamp plates are urged together in a uniform manner without one of the clamp plates becoming askew to the other.

The criss-cross pattern of the springs reduces the space behind the clamp which has heretofore been required to permit suflicient clearance of the spring assembly from the interior of the binding machine as the clamp moves along a conveyor and around the ends of the binding machine. Further, the criss-cross pattern allows the clamp to be used for a range of book thicknesses for each setting of the spring linkage mountings since the pressures developed on the clamped books vary as a function of the linkage as well as the spring constants. That is, because of the angular disposition of each spring to the clamp plates, that the springs do not elongate to the same extent that the clamp plates move apart and that, as the clamp plates are brought together, the spring mounting angle decreases to decrease the spring closing force component. Thus, a higher clamping force than heretofore achieved can be obtained for a given clamp opening while eliminating any downtime for adjusting the clamps for different thicknesses of books.

In addition, the book clamp includes an adjustable setting means for setting the clamp plates at different spacings from each other so that for the same spring pressure of the spring assembly different thicknesses of books can be clamped between the clamp plates.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pair of adjacently mounted book clamps according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of one of the book clamps of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of one of the book clamps of FIG. 1 as mounted in a book binding machine;

FIG. 4 illustrates a broken front view of one of the book clamps of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the attachment of the pair of plate members of a book clamp;

FIG. 6 illustrates a view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a clamp plate setting means of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an interconnected series of book clamps 10 are supported and guided in suitable guide tracks 11, 12 (FIG. 3) of a book binding machine to travel in an endless path. Each book clamp 10 includes an inside clamp assembly 13 and an outside clamp assembly 14 disposed in opposed relation.

The inside clamp assembly 13 has a one piece frame member 15 (FIGS. 2 and 3) formed with a cross piece 16 and a slotted stem 17 generally in the shape of a T as viewed in a plan view, and a clamp plate 18 which is secured to the face of the cross piece 16. The cross piece 16 of the frame member includes a bifurcation at one end which forms a pair of vertically spaced aligned arms 19, 20 (FIG. 4), each of which has a bore extending vertically therethrough, and an apertured bracket 21 at the other end disposed in a horizontal plane which passes between the arms 19, 20. In order to secure adjacent book clamps 10 together into an endless chain, the arms 19, 20 of one book clamp 10 are positioned through suitable bearings around a shaft 22 (FIG. 4) and the apertured bracket 21' of the adjacent book clamp is similarly positioned through a bearing sleeve 25 on the same shaft 22 between the arms 19, 20. Each of the shafts 22 between adjacent book clamps has a pair of rollers 23, 24 respectively rotatably disposed in the guide tracks 11, 12 for guiding the inside clamp assembly 13 along the book binding machine in a fixed relation.

Since each end of a book clamp 10 is mounted at two ends in the guide tracks 11, 12, the inside clamp assembly 13 is prevented from skewing horizontally relative to the guide tracks 11, 12.

The clamp plate 18 extends vertically above and below the face of the cross piece 16 (FIG. 3) of the frame member 15 a suitable distance so as to contact one face of a book 26 (FIG. 1) disposed within the book clamp 10. The upper end of the clamp plate 18 has a toothed rack 27 secured thereon which is suitably driven by a drive means (not shown) to drive the book clamp 10* about the book binding machine. The toothed rack 27 has a plurality of horizontally aligned rollers 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3) rotatably mounted thereon which roll on a suitable horizontally disposed track 29 within the guide track 11 and which serve to support the inside clamp assembly 13 thereon during movement about the book binding machine.

The outside clamp assembly 14 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) has a one piece frame member 30 formed with a cross piece 31 having vertically offset end portions and a stem portion 32 generally in the shape of a T as viewed in a plan view. The assembly further includes a pair of rods 33, 34 which are secured in the offset portions of the cross piece 31 in horizontal parallel relation to the stem portion 32, a clamp 35 which is secured on opposite ends of the rods 33, 34 from the cross piece 31, and a clamp plate 36 which is secured to the inside face of the clamp 35.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the inside and outside clamp assemblies 13, 14, are disposed with respect to each other so that the respective stem portions 17, 32 are vertically aligned and the respective cross pieces 16, 31 are in generally parallel relation. The alignment of the respective stem portions 17, 32 is assured by a pair of rollers 37 which are rotatably mounted on the stem portion 32 and disposed in a rolling relation within a slot 38 in the stem portion 17. In addition, a block guide 40 of T-shaped cross-section is secured, as by bolts 41, between the rollers 37 to the stem portion 32; the stern of the block guide 40 passing through the slot 38 and the cross bar of the block guide 40 overlying and engaging the top surface of the stern portion 17.

Referring to FIG. 2, one end of each rod 31, 32 of the outside clamp assembly 14 is threaded and passes through a respective aperture in the cross piece 31; the ends being firmly fixed therein by suitable lock nuts 42, 43. The other end of each rod is notched and passes through a respective apertured bracket 44 in the clamp 35 which is provided with an adjustable setting means 45 so as to retain the rods 33, 34 in the clamp 35. Each rod 33, 34 also passes through an apertured bracket 46, 46' in the ends of the cross piece 16 of the inside clamp assembly 13 to further position the respective clamp assemblies 13, 14 and is provided with a shoulder 47 disposed adjacent the clamp 35 between the cross piece 16 and the clamp 35 which acts as a buffer between the cross piece 16 and clamp 35 when the book clamp 10 is in closed position.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the clamp assembiles 13, 14 are moved relative to each other to clamp the clamp plates 18, 36 together through a plurality of compression springs 48 which are secured to the respective cross pieces 16, 31 by suitable guide rod assemblies 49 in a cross-cross pattern. Each guide rod assembly is composed of a guide tube 50 having an eye member 51 threadably secured on one end, a rod 52 which has an eye member 53 secured thereon and slidably received in the other end, and a pair of container washers 54 fixedly mounted adjacent the eye members 51, 53 to contain a spring 48 therebetween.

A first pair of guide rod assemblies 49 disposed in parallel relation to each other is mounted through the eye members 51 to bosses on the topside of the cross piece 16 by threaded bolts 55 and through the eye members 53 to bosses 56 on the uppermost offset portion of the cross piece 31. by threaded bolts 55. A second pair of guide rod assemblies 49 disposed in parallel relation to each other is similarly mounted to the bottomside of the cross piece 16 and the lowermost offset portion of the cross piece 31 in angular relation to the first pair of guide rod assemblies 49 to form a criss-cross pattern.

It is noted that the bosses 56 on the uppermost offset portion of the cross piece 31 are of greater height than the bosses 56 on the lowermost offset portion in order to further increase the clearance between the pairs of criss-cross springs 48 to facilitate passage over the respective stem portions 17, 32 of the frame members 13, 14.

Since the springs 48 on the guide rod assemblies 49 are in compression, the cross pieces 16, 31 are urged away from each other; correspondingly, the clamp plates 18, 36 are urged together.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the frame member 30 of the outside clamp assembly 14 has a cam follower 57 rotatably mounted on a pin 58 in the cross piece 31 centrally of the offset portions and on the opposite side of the stem portion 32. The cam follower 57 which. is of any suitable type, such as an antifriction bearing, rolls along a cam track 59 which is fixed to the book binding machine and suitably contoured so as to urge the clamp plates 18, 36 apart for the introduction and release of a book 26 therebetween at the desired stations of the binding machine.

Referring to FIG. 7, a book 26 having a plurality of signatures 60 is located between the clamp plates 18, 36 under a compressive force created by the cries-crossed compression springs 48. The signatures 60 project past the lower edges of the clamp plates which are tapered so as to allow suitable backing operations to be performed by the book binding machine after clamping.

The inner clamp plate 18 is provided with a register pin 61 which projects therefrom through slots in the outside clamp assembly 14. The register pin 61 is utilized to longitudinally align the signatures 60 and register a book with the clamp upon delivery of the book between the clamp plates 18, 36.

In addition, the inner clamp plate 18 which like the outer clamp plate 36 has a beveled lower trailing corner with respect to the direction of travel is provided thereat with a wear plate 62 (FIGS. 1 and 4) for synchronizing the operation of subsequent book working devices, such as, a paper head band unit which applied a decorative piece of material over the signatures at the ends of the book. The wear plate 62 which is generally of an L-shape cross section and which is applied to the rear of the inner clamp plate 18 has a depending portion to the rear of the inner clamp plate 18 which acts as a cam surface to actuate a lever arm on the subsequent book working device. Since the register pin 61 and wear plate 62 are accurately positioned with respect to each other, the subsequent book working device can be accurately posi tioned with respect to the rear edge of the book 26. The register pin 61 can be mounted in at least a pair of different positions on the inner clamp plate 18 so that different sized books can be centrally positioned between the clamp plates 18, 36.

Referring to FIG. 8, the adjustable set-ting means 45 includes a brass block 63 disposed within a recess of the bracket 44 and pivotally mounted in the bracket 44 by a pivot pin 64. The block 63 has an arcuate groove 65 at the free end which contains surfaces which matingly engage the notched ends of the rods 33, 34. Also, the setting means 45 includes a cam lock having a bolt 66 passing through enlarged bores in the block '63- and the bracket 44 and a cam lever 67 pivotally mounted to the bolt 66 by a pin 68 for pivoting and locking the block 63 relative to the bracket 44. The bolt 66 has a head portion 69 for preventing passage of the bolt 66 completely through the block as well as for providing a load bearing surface. It is noted however that the bolt 66 may be reversed 180 with respect to the block 63 and bracket 44 from that position shown in FIG. 8. The cam lever 67 has a cam head 70 having an arcuate cam surface 71 which cooperates with a surface of the bracket 44 to move the bolt 66 within the bracket 44 so as to position the block 63 within the notches of the rod 33. In order to maintain the cam lever 67 in position after a setting has been made, a resilient plate 72 (FIG. 1) is secured as by a pair of screws 73 to the clamp 35 to project over a projected path of movement of the cam lever 67. The plate 71 has a depressed portion 74 which, once a cam lever 67 has been snapped past it, prevents horizontal movement of the cam lever about the axis of the bolt 66.

In operation, the two adjustable setting means 45 of each book clamp are opened by swinging the cam levers 67 in a horizontal plane past the depressed portions 74 of the plates 71. Next, the cam levers 67 are pivoted about the pins 68 to raise the blocks 63 away from the rods 33, 34. After the blocks 63 are positioned for the desired book thickness the cam levers 67 are pivoted and swung back under the plates 71. The book clamps are then ready to be driven about the book binding machine through the rack 27. Initially, each book clamp 10 has the clamp plates 18, 36 positioned in close relation as shown in FIG. 6. As the book clamp 10 approaches a book delivery position, the cam track 59 moves the cam follower 57 toward the book clamp causing the outside clamp assembly 14 to move away from the inside clamp assembly 13. A book 26 is then positioned between the clamp plates 18, 36 by a suitable book delivery assembly (not shown) mounted below the clamp 10. The book clamp 10 continues to move forwardly with the clamp plates 18, 36 spaced from the book and the register pin 61 comes into abutment with the backs of the signatures 60 with respect to the direction of travel. Since the signatures 60- are still supported by the book delivery assembly, the register pin 61 longitudinally aligns the signatures so that the ends are flush or in the case where the signatures are previously secured together the book is properly positioned.

Next, because the cam track 59 is contoured in a direction away from the book clamp 10, the criss-crossed compression springs 48 are allowed to expand thereby pushing the frame member 30 of the outside clamp assembly 14 away from the frame member 15 of the inside clamp assembly 13. At the same time, the outer clamp plate 36 is brought into contact with the book 26 and urged towards the inner clamp plate 18 to create a substantially uniform clamping force on the book.

After a book has been clamped, the book clamp 10 continues along the reach of the book binding machine with a book firmly clamped between the clamp plates 18, 36. Any suitable rounding and backing operation or ad hesive binding operation can then be performed on the clamped book.

The invention thus provides a book clamp which imparts a uniform distribution of clamping pressure on clamped books so that the several rounding and backing operations as well as other operations attendant therewith can be reliably and accurately performed on the books. Also, the book clamp is adapted for use with a Wide range of thicknesses of books for each setting without any need for adjusting the clamps since the compression springs are disposed in angular relation to the clamp plate and thereby act as a toggle spring arrangement to permit a predetermined spring rate to be provided. Since the inclined spring assemblies allow a clamping force to build up at a fast rate while cutting down the total stroke as distinguished from heretofore used spring assemblies, the book clamps are capable of giving a relatively constant clamping force of 400 to 600 pounds while being able to depress at least 3 inches. Because of this, the book clamp eliminates the downtime heretofore necessary for the manual adjustment of each individual book clamp when slightly diiferent thicknesses of books were to be clamped.

In addition, the invention provides a book clamp of compact dimensions, especially in the spring components, so as to enable the book clamp to negotiate the turns in the reach of the book binding machine more easily than the before used book clamps.

What is claimed is:

1. A book clamp for book binding machines comprismg:

an inner clamp assembly having a clamp plate disposed thereon,

an outer clamp assembly having a clamp plate disposed thereon, said outer clamp assembly being oppositely disposed with respect to said inner clamp assembly,

means for aligning said outer clamp assembly relative to said inner clamp assembly,

means for moving said clamp assemblies into spaced relation to provide a space between said clamp plates for disposition of a book therebetween, and

a spring assembly secured to each of said clamp as semblies for urging said clamp plates together to clamp a book therebetween, said spring assembly including at least two compression springs disposed in angular relation to each other and to said clamp plates.

2. A book clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring assembly includes at least a pair of compression springs disposed in angular relation to each other and to said clamp plates to form a criss-cross pattern to impart a uniform clamping pressure on a book clamped between said clamp plates.

3. A book clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring assembly includes two pair of compression springs, each pair of compression springs being angularly disposed to the other pair of compression springs and each pair of compression springs having a pair of compression springs disposed in parallel relation.

4. A book clamp as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pairs of compression springs are disposed in spaced vertical planes to each other in a criss-cross pattern to impart a uniform clamping pressure on a book clamped between said clamp plates.

5. A book clamp assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring assembly includes at least two guide rod assemblies for mounting said compression springs concentrically thereon, each said guide rod assembly having a guide tube secured to one of said clamp assemblies and a rod slidably disposed in said guide tube and secured to the other of said clamp assemblies.

6. A hook clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner clamp assembly includes a one piece frame member having a first stem portion, said outer clamp assembly includes a one piece frame member having a second stem portion disposed in vertical alignment with said first stem portion, said aligning means includes means engaging said first and second stem portions for guiding said first and second stern portions relative to each other, and means disposed in said outer clamp assembly for slidably mounting said inner clamp assembly thereon.

7. A book clamp as set forth in claim 6 wherein said guiding means includes a block guide and a pair of screw rollers disposed on opposite ends of said block guide.

8. A book clamp as set forth in claim 1 for a book binding machine having a contoured cam track wherein said moving means includes a cam follower mounted on one of said clamp assemblies, the engagement of said cam follower with said cam track causing said clamp assemblies to be moved relative to each other for delivery of a book there'between.

9. A book clamp as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a wear plate secured to one of said clamp assemblies, said wear plate having a depending portion for registering a book working device whereby the book working device is synchronized with the operation of said book clamp.

10. A book clamp as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a register pin secured to one of said clamp assemblies for aligning the signatures of a book disposed between said clamp plates and centrally locating the book therebetween.

11. In combination with a book binding machine, a plurality of interconnected book clamps operably connected on said book binding baohine in an endless path, each of said book clamps comprising:

an inner clamp assembly having a clamp plate disposed thereon, an outer clamp assembly having a clamp plate disposed thereon, said outer clamp assembly being oppositely disposed with respect to said inner clamp assembly,

means for aligning said outer clamp assembly relative to said inner clamp assembly,

means for moving said clamp assemblies into spaced relation to provide a space between said clamp plates for disposition of a book therebetween, and

a spring assembly secured to each of said clamp assemblies for urging haid clamp plates together to clamp a book therebetween, said spring assembly including at least two compression springs disposed in angular relation to each other and to said clamp plates.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said book binding machine includes a contoured cam track disposed along the reach of said plurality of interconnected book clamps, and said outer clamp assembly includes a cam follower in contact with said cam track for movement of said outer clamp assembly relative to said inner clamp assembly, whereby said clamp plates are spaced for delivery of a book therebetween.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said book binding machine includes a pair of guide tracks for guiding said inner clamp assembly of each of said plurality of book clamps therein for travel around said book binding machine,

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inner clamp assembly of each of said book clamps includes a toothed rack for driving said book clamps along said book binding machine.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said toothed rack of each of said book clamps is in abutment with the adjacent toothed racks of the adjacent book clamps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,572,243 10/1951 Cashin 11--1 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOOK CLAMP FOR BOOK BINDING MACHINES COMPRISING: AN INNER CLAMP ASSEMBLY HAVING A CLAMP PLATE DISPOSED THEREON, AN OUTER CLAMP ASSEMBLY HAVING A CLAMP PLATE DISPOSED THEREON, SAID OUTER CLAMP ASSEMBLY BEING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID INNER CLAMP ASSEMBLY, MEANS FOR ALIGNING SAID OUTER CLAMP ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO SAID INNER CLAMP ASSEMBLY, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CLAMP ASSEMBLIES INTO SPACED RELATION TO PROVIDE A SPACE BETWEEN SAID CLAMP PLATES FOR DISPOSITION OF A BOOK THEREBETWEEN, AND 